Help with Comcast/IR Blaster

[icrra]

As of Nov 17, Comcast is now encrypting most channels in my area. No more clear-QAM.

I'd like to simply hook up the digital box they provided me to my PC and record off channel 3. But I'll need a device to have the PC change the channel. Questions:

Which devices should I be looking for?
Where should I get this device?
How will I know it works with this "PACE" brand box?

I'm running Windows XP, and I have three Hauppauge cards to choose from:

1600
1250
PVR-150.

I did search for these answers, but got a lot of conflicting info.

Thanks.:confused:

[nightwalker]

I use the USB-UIRT with Verizon but I was using it when I had Comcast. It worked well with the PACE DTA box and a PVR150. I have found that the dual band uirt works a bit better than the single and it was only a tad more but so far i've not found anything it couldn't learn. should you need it I have the data file for the DTA here somewhere.

[icrra]

Where did you buy it? Thanks.

[nightwalker]

They're available at http://www.usbuirt.com

[icrra]

Thank you for the info. Most helpful.

Are there any other options?

Thanks.

[JavaWiz]

The three hauppauge cards you mention should come with remotes that should work with the comcast Pace STB. I am currently using a Comcast Motorola STB, but I believe I had a Pace box working at one time as well.

I use both the 150 and 1600. I prefer the 1600 since it can pull in QAM channels over the Comcast feed, as well as controlling the Pace STB via the Analog input.

[icrra]

I'm sorry, you lost me. GB-PVR for dummies version please (myself being the dummy)

How can the Hauppauge card control the Pace box? Yes, the Hauppauge cards came with a remote and an IR input. How can this setup change channels on the pace box to record from GB-PVR?

The three hauppauge cards you mention should come with remotes that should work with the comcast Pace STB. I am currently using a Comcast Motorola STB, but I believe I had a Pace box working at one time as well.

I use both the 150 and 1600. I prefer the 1600 since it can pull in QAM channels over the Comcast feed, as well as controlling the Pace STB via the Analog input.

[icrra]

OK, a little more research came up with this FAQ: http://www.hauppauge.com/Pages/faq/suppo...ter.html#1

The problem is, I don't think any of my cards came with the "blaster" portion of the cable...I have two wires that have a receiver only I think. Assuming that the blaster portion would be separate (but uses the same wire) as the receiver.

Thanks.

[JavaWiz]

On mine, there are two wires that go to the common connection that plugs into the hauppague card.
1) Wire is a receiver for the remote,
2) An infra-red (IR) transmitter line as well (looks like a tear-drop).

This IR transmitter gets pasted on the Pace box over the sensor area on the box. When you change the channel, you will see the tear-drop light up, which causes the channel change. You'll have to run the Hauppage IR BlasterCfg program to set the correct values for your Pace box.

[SpartanSun]

Can we verify that Comcast is ENCRYPTING the channels that were previously on clear QAM (the good cable channels: ESPN, TNT, Comedy Central, TBS, etc.)?

Look at this way.
Our TVs with digital tuners can't find the good cable channels.
Our ATSC/QAM capture cards can't find the good cable channels.
But Comcast's cheapo DTA can INDEED find the good cable channels??
(In my area, Comcast is using the Pace DC50x).

The DTAs are NOT supposed to be able to see ENCRYPTED channels. They are simple boxes that Comcast can remotely instruct to re-map the channels that it sees

....I think that Comcast simply changed the frequencies on the clear QAM a bit so that we couldn't see them unless we pay $1.99 a month for another DTA box. Instead of messing with IR Blasters (and spending 50 bucks for a UIRT), can't we just find the new frequencies that Comcast is using? :mad: